Squaring devices for box closing machines



Nov. 20, 1956 w. J. EMERSON SQUARING DEVICES FOR BOX CLOSING MACHINESFiled June 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NN m%%\ m INVENTOR lVzZZzamJEmensonBY [WW ATIQRNEYS Nov. 20, 1956 w. J. EMERSON SQUARING DEVICES FOR BOXCLOSING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1953 MlZz'amJ Ema/250126 M g V ATTORNEYS United States Patent ce SQUARING DEVICES FOR BOXCLOSING MACHINES William J. Emerson, Haddonfield, N. J., assignor toSamuel M. Langston (30., Camden, N. 1., a corporation of New JerseyApplication June 17, 1953, Serial No. 362,242

2 Claims. c1. 271 s In the making of a common type of blank forcollapsible boxes a sheet is cut, scored and slotted to form the sidewalls and the flaps which are to be folded over to form the top andbottom of the box. The blank 1s then folded to bring together theopposite edges and these are then secured together by gluing, stitchingor stapling, or by a strip of tape of a length equal to the height ofthe box and extending between the transverse fold lmes at the upper andlower edges of the side walls.

Due to the character of the board, which commonly is double facedcorrugated paper, the initial folding is at two of the score lines tobring together the opposite edges, but this folding may not be alongexactly parallel lmes, particularly if the box to be made is a shallowone with short vertical corners. Therefore it is necessary to effectslight shifting of the parts of the blank which present the edges whichare to be secured together, and before these juxtaposed edges aresecured together, as for instance by a taping machine of the type shownin the Nitchle Patent 2,575,887. This shifting operation is commonlyreferred to as squaring the blank.

Various machines have been designed to efiect such squaring, two suchmachines being those disclosed and claimed in the Nitchie applicationSerial No. 310,775, now U. S. Patent No. 2,722,417, and the Nitchie &Goettsch application Serial No. 330,248, now U. S. Patent No. 2,728,274,both owned by applicants assignee.

The present invention is an improvement in the type of machine shown inthe last mentioned application. One important object is to providepositively acting means engaging the rear edges rather than the rollersengaging the surfaces of the folded blanks to shift in respect to eachother those wall panels which are to be secured together.

A second important object is to provide positively acting means toengage the blank and prevent the wall panels from shifting afterstraightening has been accomplished. Thus the side edges of the blanksare brought into registry and held in registry preliminary to connectingthem together to form what will become one vertlcal corner of the box.

In the Nitchie & Goettsch application above identified there areprovided stop means in the path of movement of the blank, and which isengaged by and halts the further movement of the more advanced portionsof the front edges of the folded blank while other portions are broughtup to the stop means. To force the blank against this stop means thereare provided driven rollers frictionally engaging the surface of theblank.

As an important feature of the present invention there is providedpositively acting means which engages the rear edge of the section ofthe folded blank which is too far back and positively forces the blankforward against said stop, which holds back the more advanced section.Thus the front edges of the walls are properly aligned by the stop, andthe rear edges are positively aligned by the pushing means.

Asa further feature this pushing means is so mounted Patented Nov. 20,1956 that it normally lies out of the path of movement of the blank, sothat after the blank has passed such pushing means the latter is movedinto said path and forwardly to engage the rear edges of the blank andforce the blank against the stop.

As a further feature the stop in the path of movement of the blank isautomatically and positively moved out of the path of the blank afterthe blank has been squared, instead of being released and pushed out ofthe path by the blank.

As a further feature the pushing means which forces the blank againstthe stop is operated by pneumatic pressure, and is therefore a somewhatyielding pressure rather than a positive one, and the liability ofinjury to the blank by excessive positive pressure is avoided.

As a further feature the blank pushing means, after In the accompanyingdrawing there is shown merely one embodiment of the invention, but itwill be understood that various changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying the invention,certain parts being broken away to facilitate a clear showing of theother parts and their operation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a folded blank and the parts engaging the blankto square it, but with the normal extent of the inaccurate foldingexaggerated.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section showing the means for pushinging it.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of a type of air control meanswhich may be used for the pusher, the stop and the rollers which act onthe surface of the blank, the parts being in the position they occupyduring the squaring of the blank.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the control valve, and

I with panels A and D along the fold lines a and b, which are the oneswhere the inaccuracy in folding occurs. Each panel has foldable sectionsat each end, and these coact to form the top and bottom of the box, theones shown being A, A", D, D", B and C". In squaring a blank which isinaccurately folded, as shown A is pushed to the left from the and thepanel D is held back to bring the edges of A and D and the edges of Aand D" into registry preparatory to gluing flap E on panel A onto panelD. Before folding or before squaring the blank, the flap E is coatedwith adhesive, but it is not pressed down onto the panel D sufiicientlyfirmly to cause it to permanently hold the flap in place until after thesquaring is effected.

In the specific form illustrated the machine has a main frame includinga pair of lower beams 10 and 11 spaced apart horizontally, and an upperbeam 12, each in the form of a channel, the three being rigidlyconnected to end frames. The beams 10 and 11 support a table 13 on whichthe blanks are manually folded to bring the opposite edges into abuttingrelationship, and between the frame members 10 and 11 is a conveyor belt14 for advancing the blanks, and also the means for squaring them. Theupper frame member 12 carries means coacting with the conveyor belt topress down and aid in advancing the folded blanks, and a control forsaid means. The belt part of the blank forward in squarin Fig. 2, thepanel position shown in Fig; 2,

2,771,292 3 14 along its length maybe keptfrom sagging by a plu---il'zality of idler rollers 14a therebeneath, as shown inSl'ipiragerofthe bl'a'nks "on-the belt '14' whil adifa'ncin tothesquai'ing mechanisnl and 'o 'l'eaving-th'e' 'sqifar meoha nism ispreVen'ted by pressing them down omb the belt; For'this' purposethr'e isprovideda pluralitf'of rollers 15 each directly above one of the rollers14a?" only-ioneof the'se' 'rollcrs 15 and the controhtherefoi' is shownin' Fi'gmlybut the positions-'of 'the others "areIO indicated in "dottedlines. Each roller is carried by a pair of" arms"-'16-secur'ed' to aroclc'*shaft'*17joui'rialed' in the upper frame member 12, and theroller is pressed down by a spring- '18 between the uppe'rwhanriel12"and a bar 19 connecting the'arms l6r The' 'pressure a'pp'li'd-'1'5 bythe'rollers'in the're'ar' of the squaringpartsfand shown in =Figll,is;notsuificient"'to *eausethe flap E to firmly adhere to the panel D.-fFor limiting-"the-downward'move-" ment of the roller- '15 the -shaft 17''carries'can"arm= 20 provided-with an adjustable stop 21which'may'engage the upper surfaceof the lower wall ofthe'frarne-meinbe'r 12.

To efiect the squaring of each blank as it is advanced by-the belt-14there are'prov'ided'stop means in the'path ofmovement of the blank,andpusher means for engag ingthe'rear edge of each blank in successionand-forcing it against the stop means. When 'the blank hasb'een' squaredthe stop means is moved out Ofjthfi path of the blank so thatthe-squared blank -maypass it and'be discharged; and the pusher'isprovided with rneans'for movingit out of the path of the blanks so'thatthe next 5 blank can be advanced to the stop means.

The'stop means illustratedincludes a pairof horizontal transverselyextending bars 22disposed-adjzicerit to opposite edges of the conveyorbelt 14'a'nd'carried bymembers 22a which are verticallymovable.""Thus,-when' in their upper position, as shown in Fig.1, they are in the pathof the blanks on the belt, and the belt and the rollers 15 will move theblanks in successionup --to the stops. When in their lower positionthey'rest on -the channels 10, 11, at opposite edgesof andbelow theupp'er-surface-go ofthe belt, so that the belt 14 can advancethestraighten'ed blank over them and discharge it. Poi-raisingandlowering the stops 22 there'are provided'double-acting air cylinders22b, shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 4, and operating ashereinafterdescribed;

The means employed for forcing the blanks in succes sion against thestops 22'includes a pair of pushers 23 which are pivotally supported attheir lower ends and are normally disposed below the path of movement ofthe blanks, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, so that the blanks maypass over them. Each'pushcr 23 is carried byfan arm 24 pivotallysupported at 23' on a frame part 25, and 'pivotally connectedintermediate of its ends to a link '26 which is also pivoted to an arm27. This arm is pivotally supported at its upper end on a pin 27carried' by the frame part' 25, and its lower end is secured to'ljlocks28 journaled in a pin 29 which extends laterally fro'rn'fa head 29 onthe endof the piston rod 30 of a piston in an aircylinder 31. Thiscylinder is pivoted at 32 6a a bracket 33 on'the main frame member 10,and therefore the piston rod 30 and the cylinder'31 swing up 60 4Thereby the fold lines a and b of the blanks are readjusted so as to beat right angles to the front and rear edges of all wall and flapportions of the blank. The stops 22 are then lowered out of the path ofthe blanks, simultaneously with the lowering of rollers 15 intoengagement with the squared blank. The pushers 23 swing back and downtothe position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3; and the squared blank isdischarged by the'c'onveyor'M and rollers 15, one of which grips theblank and holds it in its square condition.' When'the-neiit blankstrikes targ'e'fi? 65 thecornplete cycle of operation of squaringthe-blank is repeated.

Means'are provided for'liftingrollers 15 out of engagement with theblank, simultaneously with aerating of stops 22. After the=pushers 23havc'ompleted the squaring of the blank, the rollers 15 lower to engagethe blank, simultaneously with the lowering of stops 22. The rollers nowengage a squa'r'd" blank-and hold "the blank in registf 'untiI -it isconveyed into a'tapin g or "stitching 'wi maehine,br in the' case ofthe'glue joint, the roller's'holdf."- the blank in register along theconveyor for a times'uflicient t o set the "adhesive to close the'joint,- whereupon theblahks are then discharged from the conveyor;

Th'e ai' '20' has an upstanding bar 34 rigid'ther'ewith," and meafis'are provided for swinging this bar to the 5 right from the positionshownin Fig: 1, thereby to life they arm 20; rock thef shaft ""17 clockwise,'lift the arms 16 which are eye d to the shaft,'and lift the roller 15'above'-* the 'blank This meansincludes an"endwise movable" rod'BS whihasa'nut' 'fifi threaded-thereon,"and'thebar"-" 3411-21 portions 37with' curved surfaces for engaging the nut 's'othat when-the rod ismoved to the rightthrollers 15 are lifted agaifis t gravity andtheaction of spring 1 8;

It will'be understood that' e achof the rollers '15 shown in Fig.7?haspar'ts '16to'21fi34 and 37, the Same as-the onefshoivn 'ir iFigl lThe rod as is threaded alongsi1b= stan'tially it fentire length;'andthere are a plurality' 'o'f the nuts 36, each for lifting a separate'o'ne of the rollers. Thusi' 'byadjusting 'the nuts, only those rollersengaging the "blafnkto be s'quare'd "are raised "and lowered.Forsimultaneouslylifting and' low'er ing' the rollers there" isprovidedinean's for ino'ving'thenod 'back and forth 'f entl'titzihefj'suc h iiieaiis include s a cylinderffit)"supportedfrom thecha nnel l'2by a bracket 40"'a'nd"having a-pis'ton 41"connected to the' end of therod '35.- K

As "previously notedj the "blank straightening pushers "j 23, the:stopbars 22"and the rollers'15 are operativel'y connected'to pistons ihcylinders 3ly22b and 40. A.s"an""- irnportaht featiireof the inventionthere is providedine'ans' for controlling the delivery 0f a pressurefluid, 5 preferably compressed air, to one end of each of thesecylindersto-" raisethe lrollers,j'raise the "stops, *aid 'in advancing"the blank to straightenin'g positioii and to straighten" it, audthereafter permit ithis air to"escap'e*. Compressedwir s the'n deliveredto the other endo'f each' cylinder'to lower" thefrblle'rs; lower thestops to permit discharge of the straightned "blank, and retractthe 3pushers" so that an: other blank may advance to straightening position?The compre'ssed airis' 'deliverdby'a pipe 42 having a pressure"gauge"43,and may have'traps 44 for colle'con 'a pivot 32 as the block 23 moves upwith the arm 27.

By means of this toggle linkage, when compressed air is admitted to thepivotally supported left hand end of the'cylinder 31, the piston rod30-rnoves out to swing the'arms 27 up about the pivot 27, so that thelinks 26 push arms 24 upwardly to bring the pusher 23 up and against therear end of the blank to move the latter to the' l'eft from the positionshown in Fig. 2. This movement continues until all of the right handedges of the sections of the blank are engaged by the pushers 23,

and all of the left hand edges'ot' the blank are forced against "thestops" 22. In this movement the parts A, A,

' berhasfou'r' collars 47, 48, 49 and 50,and thec'ylindrica 3 tion'ofcondensedmoisture. This pipeleads to a control?" unit, one fprnr of"which is shown in section in Fig. '5. This includesa cylii'-lder"45with a reciprocating valve member herein? In the tormunusaated' thismen-" passage through the casinghas five annular gro'o'ves'sig' 52, 53',54 a'nd 55f 'The collars 47 and 5'0clo'se the 'ends of't h e chamber,and the ends of the reciprocating-member 46'e1'rte'nd1to electromagnetssuch as solenoids 56 amas /.5 The grdovess 1 and 55 are connected tobranches 4221 and 4250f the' air supply pipe 42; the groove '52 isfcon fnected to apipe SSftor delivering'air to one endof eali 1 of the''c'yliiiders 22b; -31 and '40 to effect the straightening' and'A"' otthe blank are advanced, andthe' parts D, D

and' D 'are held" against bther'tha'n skewing *movemem;

operation; the groove 5Q is connectedto apip "5 9fo"r deliveriiig'air tothe'btli'er end of 'ea'cli cylinde'Fm ease:

the end of a straightening operation; and the groove 53 is connected toan exhaust pipe 60.

In Fig. 5 the valve member 46 is shown in the position it occupies atthe end of its backward movement after the solenoid 56 has beenenergized and the reciprocating valve member has been pulled to the leftuntil the collar 47 engages a stop or the end of the solenoid 56 and theoperating parts of the machine are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and4. In this position of the valve member compressed air from the pipe 42may flow through branch 42a to the groove 51 and along the valve memberto the groove 52, and out through the pipe 58 and branch 58a to raisethe rollers, to branch 580 to raise the stops 22, and to branch 58b toraise the blank straightening members to the position shown in Figs. 1and 4.

After the straightening of the blank the circuit of the solenoid 57 isclosed and that of the solenoid 56 is opened. Now the solenoid 57 pullsthe valve member to the right from the position shown in Fig. 5, and tothe opposite end of its stroke. Now the collar 47 closes the air supplybranch 42a; the collar 48 has moved to the other side of the exhaustpipe 60 and connected the latter to the pipe 58, and the collar 49 hasmoved to the other side of the groove 55 to connect branch pipe 42b topipe 59.

Now air may flow from pipe 42 through branch 42b to pipe 59, has:connected pipe 58 to the exhaust pipe 60, and compressed air from thepipe 42 may flow through branch 42b to the pipe 59 and its branches 59a,59b and 590 to lower the rollers, lower the stops and to retract theblank straightening members to the position shown in Fig. 3. The beltwill now discharge the straightened blank and advance another blank forstraightening.

For controlling the solenoids 56 and 57 and operating them alternatelythere are provided two switches, one for each solenoid. These switchesare normally open, and that of solenoid 56 is momentarily closed tostart pulling the valve to the left, as shown in Fig. 5 and start thestraightening operation. Solenoid 57 is momentarily closed to return theparts to discharge the squared blank and to be in position preparatoryto straightening the next blank.

Below the table 13 and in the rear of the pushers 23 there is provided aswitch box 63 having a switch 64, as shown in Fig. 3, actuated by a pushbutton 61 in the circuit of the solenoid 57, and disposed in the path ofmovement of the head 29 of the piston rod 30, or by some other connectedpart.

When the compressed air in the cylinder 31 has moved the pusher 23 upand against the rear end of the blank, and completes the straightening,head 29 on the piston rod 30, or an associated part, engages the pushbutton 61 (dotted position of mechanism shown in Fig. 3) and momentarilycloses the switch 64 and energizes the solenoid 57. This solenoid pullsthe valve member 46 to the right from the position shown in Fig. 5 todischarge the squared blank and to be in position preparatory tostraightening the next blank.

The circuit of the solenoid 56 is momentarily closed by a target in thepath of movement of the blank, and between the pushers 23 and the stops22. This target 65 and its circuit closing means 66 may be of the typeshown in Figs. 9 and 10 of the Nitchie Patent 2,575,887.

When the blank strikes and depresses the target 65 the switch circuit isclosed momentarily, is released and reset even though the blank holdsthe target depressed. The momentary closing of this circuit energizessolenoid 56 and pulls the valve member to the left, and thestraightening elements perform their proper functions. At the completionof the straightening, push button 61 is depressed, closing the circuitof solenoid 57. The straightening elements return to their startingposition shown in Fig. 3 while the blank is discharged along theconveyor. When the blank passes beyond the depressed target, the targetsnaps up and latches into the now preset switch circuit of solenoid 56.The operating means are now set preparatory to operation for the nextblank.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A straightening apparatus for folded blanks, including a beltconveyor for advancing the blank, a roller for pressing the blank ontothe conveyor, a stop movable into and :out of the path of the blank, ablank pusher movable into and out of engagement with the rear edge ofthe blank to force it against the stop, pneumatically actuated means foradvancing and retracting said stop and said pusher and for raising andlowering said roller, and blank-actuated means for automaticallysynchronously operating said pneumatic means to advance the stop so asto successively interrupt the advance of the blanks with the conveyorand to simultaneously raise the roller from blank engaging position, toadvance the pusher into engagement with the rear edge of the immobilizedblank so as to press the blank forcibly against the stop and tostraighten the blank, and to then lower the roller onto the blank so asto maintain the blank by pressure in straightened condition and toretract the stop and pusher to permit the blank to advance with theconveyor under control of said roller.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the blank-actuated meanscomprises a target in the path of movement of the blank, electromagneticmeans for controlling the operation of said pneumatic means and meansactuated by said target for opening and closing the circuit of saidelectromagnetic means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,854,798 Labombarde Apr. 19, 1932 1,874,671 Walker et a1. Aug. 30, 19322,068,163 Bowersock et al. Jan. 19, 1937 2,292,487 Stevens Aug. 11, 1942

